The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1887-08-18
INCREDIBLE.
Sensational Story of the Sinking
of an American Fishing
~.
Vessel.
She is Fired on by Canadian
Crulser--An on Board
Lost.

New YORK, August 15.-An Ottawa spe-
oial to the Herald says:
"a gentleman who arrived here yester-
day evening from Buchtouche, small
village on the Gulf of st. Lawrence, shore
of New Brunswick, told startling SEN
sational story calculated to make the
blood boil in every American citizens
heart. He says that fishing schooner
belonging to the United StatesH had been
sunk by shot from one of the Canadian
cruisers, and that all on board were lost.
The statement appears incredible, but the
reliability of the person who communl-
Gates it can be depended upon. This gem
tlemen has been spending some time In
Buchtouche, and is we'll acquainted with
the inhabitants, but has no interest what
ever in fishery matters, and can have
no possible reason for repeating story
which he knows to be false.
He states that one night about eight
days ago, while sleeping in house in the
village, himself and his wife were
awakened by two loud reports. They
heard nothing further, and, concluding
that the noise was merely peals of thun-
der went to sleep again. In the morning
they were told that they had had heard
the reports of two cannon shots, which
we're fred from a cruiser in pursuit of an
American fishing schooner. The second
shot struck one of the schooners masts,
which fell with the sails and
turned the schooner completely over
on her side, when she filled and sank
Immediately. Every man on board went
down, there not being minutes time to
launch boat. The affair, he said, was
witnessed by couple of Buchtouche
fishermen. who we're off shore in row
boat, and who carried the news home
After seeing the terrible result of her
shots, the rruiser put to sea and was lost
In the night. There was no storm during
the night, so that the nose heard on shore
could not have been thunder The reports
were heard by nearly everybody in the
village, who, in spite of their being short
and sharp, at the moment attributed them
to thunder.
The gentleman relating this terrible
affair says that every effort is being made
to keep it quiet. There is no doubt, how
ever, about the reports being heard, ano
that there was no storm. The object OF
the authorities in suppressing news o1
such character for SO long time al
possible can readily be understood
but, if true, the facts must come out, as 1t
would be really impossible to keep every
man on board the cruiser from telling
something of the story as soon as ne
reached port.
If it transpires that an American YES
sci and her crew have been sunk in this
manner, grave complications will 'ensue
The number of lives lost would probably
be from twelve to fifteen-posslbly two o.
three more. That the report did mo-
come from Buchtouche sooner is explained
by the fact that it is an isolated place.
PROBABLY oANARD.
TORONTO, August 15.-The manager O
the telegraph office at Bnctouche send
the following answer to an inquiry abou
the report that a Canadian cruiser ha'
sunk a United States fishing schooner a
that port:
~ have heard about the story published
in the United States, but do not believ
there is any truth in it. People here di'
hear some firing, but they do not know
what it was. They also heard that 10
of prisoners were taken to Richbucto, bu
that is not true. I believe the whole thini
to be canard."
DIsoREDITED IN MONTREAL
NEW YORK, August 15.-A Montrea
special says dispatch from Ottawa say
the fishery department has no information
regarding the story of the sinking of al
American fisherman by Canada
cruiser The story is completely discredite
here and looked upon as canard, pur
and simple. Had any such trouble oc
Cured the department would have beeI
Immediately notified, as is always don
within twelve hours in case of seizures
kilograms received from the minister
fisheries show that the Americans are re
specting the regulations, and that he an
ticipates that by next year poaching wi